What does 'Legally Blind' really mean? Let's understand it simply

Have you ever heard the words 'legally blind'? Maybe in a movie, or when reading somewhere. When we hear this, we think of a dark world, a state where we can't see anything, right? But the reality is much different. It's not a complete loss of vision as many people think. Today, we're going to talk about this condition called 'legally blind' in a simple and straightforward way.

Is 'Legally Blind' a medical condition?

The first thing to understand is that 'legally blind' is not a medical term like diabetes. Simply put, it is a legal and administrative term. It is a specific criterion that governments and institutions in each country use to decide whether to provide certain benefits, benefits, and services to people with severe vision impairment.

Imagine, 85 out of 100 people with severe vision impairment have some level of vision. Only a small minority, about 15%, have complete darkness, meaning no light perception (NLP) . This means that many people who are considered 'legally blind' have some level of vision.

So how do you determine if someone is 'legally blind'?

Two main factors are considered to determine whether someone falls into this category or not. These criteria are widely accepted internationally.

1. Visual Acuity: This refers to how clearly you can see things. This is measured as 20/200 or worse. (We'll see what 20/200 means below.) Importantly, this measurement is based on vision after wearing glasses or contact lenses .

2. Field of View is very narrow: This refers to how wide you can see around you when you are looking straight at one place. If this field of view is narrower than 20 degrees, it can also be a cause of this condition. The range of vision is limited, as if you are looking through a tube. Some people also call this ``tunnel vision``.

What is this 20/200 vision? Let's take a simple look.

These numbers seem a bit hard to understand, don't they? Let's understand this with a very simple example. To clarify this, let's look at the table below.

So, 20/200 is a very poor level of vision. If you have this level even with glasses, it qualifies you for the status of 'legally blind'.

How can this situation be ensured in Sri Lanka?

This is not something you can decide on your own. If you have a serious problem with your vision, the first thing you should do is see an eye specialist (Ophthalmologist) .

Here's how the process usually goes:

1. Seek medical advice: Talk to your doctor about your vision problem.

2. Conducting tests: The doctor will perform special tests to measure your visual acuity and field of view.

3. Obtain a medical report: If the test results show that you meet the criteria mentioned above (e.g., 20/200 vision), the doctor will provide an official medical report stating that.

4. Applying for Benefits: Using this medical report, you can apply for reliefs and benefits provided to visually impaired persons by the Sri Lankan government or other institutions.

What are the benefits of receiving such a certificate?

Having a medical certificate stating that you are 'legally blind' may entitle you to various benefits and concessions. These may vary from country to country and from time to time. Here are some of the concessions that are generally available in Sri Lanka:

• Eligibility for certain government assistance or disability allowances .
• Receiving special accommodations or facilities in educational activities (for example, extra time during exams or a special assistant).
• Assistance in obtaining special equipment or facilities that may be needed at work.
• Getting some relief in things like public transportation services.

Therefore, the term 'legally blind' is not a label that stigmatizes you. It is simply an official recognition that can help you get the support and services you need.